Fusible cut-out.



G. B. GRIFFIN.

FUSIBLE GUT-OUT.

APPLIOATION FILED 001'; s1, 1910,

1,070,452, Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

WITNESSES: W TQR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BREWER GRIFFIN, CF EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIG AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA. Fusing cur-our. 1,070,452 I Specification of Letters latent. P t t u 19,1913 Application filed October 31, 1910. Serial No. 589,914.

To all whom it may concern: to maintain, I locate the openings to the Be itknown that I, GEORGE B. GRIFFIN, atmosphere at the top of the cut-out. Morea citizen of the United States, and a resiover, I provide discharge openings of such dent of Edgewood, in the county of Alleform, as well as location, that the cut-outs gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have inmay be employed for out-of-door service vented a new and useful Improvement in without sacrificing any of the desirable fea- Fusi-ble Cut-Outs, of which the following is tures or advantages.

a specification. In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 My invention relates to fusible cut-outs is a view, partially in elevation and par- .0 for transformer or other electric circuits and tially in vertical section, of a fusible cutit has for its object to provide a cut-out of out constructed in accordance with my inthe above indicated class which 'shall' be vention, and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view simple and inexpensive in construction and of the cut-out shown in Fig. 1. effective and reliable in operation, and Referring to the accompanying drawings,

5 which shall be particularly adapted to rea fusible cut-out 1 comprises a fuse-holdlievethe excessive pressure created at the ing body or plug Qand a supporting block instant the fusible material is blown and to or receptacle 3, both of which are constructrapidly discharge the hot metallic vapor ed of porcelain or any other suitable insuthus formed under such conditions as to prelating material.

0 vent injury to the hands of anyone who in- The fuse-holding body 2 comprises a frusserts the detachable member of the device to-conical projecting body portion 4 and a at any time during the existence of an overknob or handle 5, a shoulder 6 being proload or a short circuit on the line. vided at the lower portion of the projecting In the past,.it has been common practice body 4 upon which a plurality of movable 5 to employ cut-outs of the general type herecontact terminals 7 are mounted in a-suitin set forth in which openings to the atmosable manner at diametrically opposite phere have been provided for the purpose points. The contact terminals 7 are of the of ventilation. However, all such devices usual knife-blade type and embody a main have embodied either side or bottom openblade member 8 havin an enlarged portion 80 ings which did not always serve to dis- 9 for a dpurpose whic will be hereinafter charge the vapors produced by fuse exdescribe plosions in such manner and with such ef- In proximity to the movable contact terfectiveness as to prevent breakage of the minals 7 are located longitudinally dispose-d fuse-holding receptacle or insure freedom grooves 10 which extend upwardly in the 35 from injury to anyone who mi ht manipusides of the projecting body portion 4 and late the device when connecte in circuit, communicate with each other at the top. It Moreover, the life and effectiveness of such will be observed that the grooves 10 are cut-outs have been materially reduced on gradually dee er and wider at the top, while account of the maintenance of severe arcs the lower en s 10 are merely large enough 40 by metallic vapor which has not been propto accommodate a fuse wire 11 which is diserly discharged. posed in said grooves and the ends of which Investigation has shown that when fuses are secured to the stationary contact terof any type which are not tightly embedded minals 7 in a suitable manner. Thus, the in a u re ing material ar blown, fuse wire iswell protected and an exception- 45 metallic vapors of extremely high temperaally long path is provided. Furthermore, ture are formed. Such vapors tend to rise adequate provisions are made for a ready with a very considerable speed until the upward discharge of vapors, while a downgases which are given off from the minute Ward expulsion thereof is prevented by reaparticles are dissipated and the articles sonof the decreased size of the grooves 10".

50 become sufficiently chilled to check t e rapid The supporting block or receptacle 3 emv upward movement. 7 bodies a centrally locatedfrusto-conical re- 1 In order to utilize the inherent properties cess 12 which extends upwardly and is proof these hot metallic vapors toward the devided at its lower portion with an enlarged sired end of quickly discharging the same opening 13 and a shoulder 14. Suitable sta- 55 and extinguishing the ares which they tend -tionary contact terminals 15 are fastened to the shoulder 14 at diametrically opposite points and cooperate with the movable contact terminals 7 in a well known manner.

In order that the weight of the fuse-hold i-ng body 2 may be sustained, by the cooperating contact terminals, each jaw 16 of the stationary contact terminals 15 is provided With an outwardly bent portion 17 which is adapted to engage the enlarged portion 9 of the movable contact terminals 7, as Will be readily understood. Although these particular types of terminals are specially adapted to perform the functions desired, it is evident that any other suitable devices for accomplishing the same purpose may be,

. employed.

The lower portion of the receptacle 3 constitutes an annular wall 18, in which upwardly projecting holes 19 are provided to accommodate line conductors 20 which are secured to stationary contact terminals 15. Bosses or lugs 21 are also provided on opposite sides of the-receptacle 3 forthe purpose of mounting said receptacle in its operative position.

The upper portion of the receptacle 3 forms a cap 23 which is overhung on all sides to a considerable extent. Furthermore, a passage 24 is provided which constitutes an upper extension of the recess 12, while a plurality of passages 25 extend from the upper end of the. passage 24 to the atmosphere. The passages 25 extend outwardly and downwardly and are open ,to the atmosphere on the under side 26 of the cap It will be observed, therefore, that, while the hot metallic vapors which are formed at the instant the fuse is blown, are allowed to rise freely and are thus rapidly discharged, suitable weather protection is provided for the discharge openings so that a structure is obtained which may be successfully used in out-of-door service.

Those skilled in the art will readily un-.

derstand that various modifications may be effected from what is hereinbefore shown and described, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and all such modificat1ons-are intended to be covered in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cut-oritxcomprising a supporting block having a frusto-conical central chamber and a passage extending from the top of said chamber to the atmosphere, a movable fuseholding frusto-conical body having diametrically opposite grooves to receive a fuse wire and adapted to fit into said central chamber, and cooperating stationary and movable contact members secured, respectively, to said supporting block and to said fuse-holding body. I

2. In an electrical cut-out, the combination wlth a supporting block of insulating material having an axially located recess of said block, a projecting body having oppositely disposed grooves to receive a fuse 30 wire and adapted to fit tightly into said recess, stationary and movable cooperating contact members associated respectively with said block and said body, and a passage extending from the top of said recess tothe 35 atmosphere, having a downwardly directed A outer end. 7.

4. In an electrical cut-out, the combination with a supporting block of insulating material, having a deep recess extending upwardly from'the bottom of said block, a projecting body having oppositely disposed grooves to receive a fuse wire and adapted to fit in said recess, and stationary and movable cooperating contact members associated, respectively, with said block and said body, said supporting block having a passage that extends upwardly from the upper wall of said recess and has outward and downward extensions to conduct away the vapors formed when the fuse wire is blown and discharge them'in a downward direction to the atmosphere.

5. The combination with a supporting block having a centrally located frustoconical chamber extending upwardly from the bottom of said block, a passage extending upwardly a material distance from the top of said recess and thence outwardly and downwardly to the atmosphere and stationary contact terminals at its base, of a frustoconical plug of the same general size and shape as said chamber and adapted to fit therein and having longitudinal grooves in its sides to receive a fuse wire, and contact 1 terminals adapted to cooperate with said sta-/ tionary contact terminals to lock said plug and block together.

6. The combination with a receptacle of insulating material comprising a body por 1 tion having acentrally located upwardly extending recess, a vertical passage constituting an extension of said recess, an overhang ing cap portion provided with lateral extensions of said vertical passage which are open to the atmosphere. at its underside and stationary contact terminals, of a plug member of insulating material adapted to be inserted longitudinally into said recess, sald plug having correspondingly located grooves to receive the fuse wire and contact terminals for said fuse wire which are adapted to cooperate with said stationary contact terminals'.

7 A fusible cut-out comprising an insulatfng receptacle of inverted cup shape, stationary contact terminals attached to the bottom edge of said receptacle, a fuse-holding plug of insulating materialdetachably mounted in said receptacle and provided with contact terminals to cooperate with the stationary contact terminals. and a lon itudinal passage having one -or more laterally extending branches openingv to the atmos-' phere at the end remote from the contact 15 terminals for dischargingthe vapor of a blown fuse.' v

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of October 1910. I GEO-BREWER GRIFFIN.

Witnesses: v

' A. D. FISHEL,

B. B. HINEs. 

